Working towards committee system

Councillor Ken Baker. File Photo

Following recommendations from the George B Cuff & Associates governance audit, council has directed administration to make changes to the procedure bylaw.

The governance audit recommended that a governance and priorities committee (GPC) system be implemented.

“I think this will give the opportunity to help ensure council information has been gathered before it reaches the council chambers for further debate,” Mayor Gerald Aalbers said after Monday’s city council regular meeting.

The new committee system, Aalbers explained, would be a benefit and to help ensure questions council may have will be answered in a timely fashion.
“If we have something on our mind, we have questions, we can direct that to administration and make sure when it gets to council it can be further debated and voted on. It doesn’t have to be set back to be tabled,” he added.

Council selected the 2017 meeting schedule, option two.

It will be holding on GPC meeting and two regular council meetings per month.

Much debate occurred during the meeting as to what day the GPC meetings fall.

“I believe it’s going to be the Monday afternoon between council meetings, working around the existing council schedule,” said Aalbers.

Council advised the administration to complete the creation of the revised procedure bylaw and to present it to the GPC.

“We as a council have decided it’s just a matter of setting those dates, as far as I understand and setting it publicly so people are aware when it comes out—you will know when those meetings are being held so anyone can attend if they wish,” said Aalbers.

Coun. Ken Baker has been in favour of a committee system from the beginning, and he noted the GPC system was a halfway point, saying it will allow council members to be more informed.

“The worst thing you can do is be on a council chamber and have no time to get your research done before you’re asked to vote on things,” he said.
“I don’t think it’s fair to anyone ... to count on the council to make the right decisions on their behalf.”

The aim is for the GPC system to help improve council and lead to fewer barriers to enhance efficiently.

“We will have the opportunity to ask those questions to administration in a public, open setting. Ensuring as many questions are flushed out beforehand,” said Aalbers.

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